Topic: 1975 Honda CB750P2 Police Restoration - White Gold

[JamesH]

You've been very resourceful making that harness. I've found a company will use as much off the shelf as they can to save custom building anything.

Thanks Don. I guess it’s the attention to detail that counts on builds like this.

A good example is the RH for ear. It’s got some very minor rust imperfections that are showing through - the painter didn’t spot it, but I can’t bring myself to compromise so I’ll have to get another pair of ears glass bead blasted and repainted.

Hopefully the hard work will pay off in the finished article.

Plan is to fit the engine on Tuesday evening all being well..

[JamesH]

Well, I been thinking about this day for 3-4 years now, and finally have the engine back in the frame. She literally slotted into place perfectly - the easiest ‘re-insertion’ of a 750 engine I’ve ever had.

Luckily I had a new points cover in my stock pile - just checked the DSS price and (drum roll) - £360. Yes, £360. 3. 6. 0. British pounds. What the f*** is going on there..?

It turns out the NOS foot pegs came out of the sale of John Wyatt’s estate, via a nice chap who is helping Johns widow sell off his bike related stuff and doing so in a really fair, ethical and transparent way which is a nice touch. Thanks John for keeping hold of these over the years

Anyway, have made the progress I wanted this week - having a week off next week - so next update will be the following week.

Obligatory progress photos below…

[BenelliSEI]

James...... really looks amazing all in white. How unique! What paint did you use on the engine cases? They look spectacular..

[Don R]

It's looking great! I think the world supply of points covers ran out all at once. cb750.com has smooth ones and I noticed Z1 parts had some reasonably priced that look like stock but are probably reproduction.

[BenelliSEI]

It's looking great! I think the world supply of points covers ran out all at once. cb750.com has smooth ones and I noticed Z1 parts had some reasonably priced that look like stock but are probably reproduction.

Don..... I noticed the smooth ones are no longer listed on some sites either...... weird.

[MauiK3]

What a jewel!

[Don R]

 It will be interesting to see if the price of billet points covers follows the price trend now that they are cheaper than stockers. 

[JamesH]

So has been a ‘slow progress’ couple of weeks. Came back from Skiing and promptly got the ‘Rona, so that held progress up quite a bit.

Also, quite a few of the electrical component refurbishment jobs are REALLY time consuming - restoring the original rectifier took 3-4 hours on its own, a couple of hours restoring the pilot light indicator ‘brushed’ plate, building up the rusty seat catch etc..

Anyway, all of the major electrics are now installed. The ‘silver’ heatshrink on the headstock was a complete waste of time as i feared it may be - the heatshrink was way to brittle and would have cracked within a few miles of use, so I striped it off and the loom will just have to remain black sheathed in the headstock area. A small concession really, but it was worth a try.

NOS ‘white’ rear plastic inner muguard was very carefully fitted, rear painted guard fitted and light bracket installed with wiring.

Rear indicators were also fitted and wired up.

Battery and tool tray fitted with new rubbers and new battery.

The rear shocks were new items, but they were stripped into component form and the shrouds were stripped of chrome, colour-match painted, and then reassembled onto the shocks. Again a 4-5hour job. Getting the details right on a build like this is hard, time consuming work. But I know the end product will be worth it.

Rear hubs came back from polishing after Graham kindly re-lined the rear hub after much arm-twisting (and cash).

New bearings have been fitted to both hubs, ready for the wheels to be laced and trued before new continental tyres go on them.

I’ve been saving a pair of NOS Honda oil lines for this bike, as she deserves the best. I’ve also saved a set of NOS Honda HM341 exhausts for the bike. The parts bill for this bike is going to be bloody eye watering


Next job will be to fit new bronze bushes to the swingarm and get that fitted, lubed and adjusted.

Oh, I also have had to rebuild the original speedometer (damping action was fine) with parts from the NOS speedometer I had - the drive mechanism on the NOS unit I had wasn’t correct for my particular vintage of police bike.

Progress photos below…

[BenelliSEI]

James..... Fantastic work! The white paint is daunting, to say the least. I chuckle a bit looking at your freshly polished hubs. The rear hub I have for my project is ready to be picked up. Like yours, every spoke hole will have that little pile of black sh#’t swarf stuck inside it. Talk about a waste of time. I use cotton swabs soaked in Varsol to get most of it out and then twiddle away with a small screwdriver and bits of flannel waste to get them really clean....... Anyone else would think me insane!

Quick question; the ground wire from the battery is mounted to the frame using the top rear engine bolt. On occasion, I’ve seen it sandwiched between the engine and the inside face of the frame. Have you ever taken note of where they went originally? Cheers, John D.

[desertrefugee]

That is without question the finest police bike I have ever seen - and it's not even finished!

Outstanding work! I can't imagine what you would do on a standard restoration. Wait, yes I can. Your attention to detail is above reproach. To say "nice work" does what you've accomplished on this thing a disservice.

[rocket johnny]

one word ,,,  "WOW !!! "

[JamesH]

James..... Fantastic work! The white paint is daunting, to say the least. I chuckle a bit looking at your freshly polished hubs. The rear hub I have for my project is ready to be picked up. Like yours, every spoke hole will have that little pile of black sh#’t swarf stuck inside it. Talk about a waste of time. I use cotton swabs soaked in Varsol to get most of it out and then twiddle away with a small screwdriver and bits of flannel waste to get them really clean....... Anyone else would think me insane!

Quick question; the ground wire from the battery is mounted to the frame using the top rear engine bolt. On occasion, I’ve seen it sandwiched between the engine and the inside face of the frame. Have you ever taken note of where they went originally? Cheers, John D.

Lol that's a good spot John. Before lacing the wheels I generally give the spoke holes a good clean with a degreaser and a soft bristle brush or toothbrush (normally before fitting the bearings) - o I'll have to tape the faces of the bearings and use a can of brake cleaner to blast out the holes. Looks like your Sandcast project is building momentum - keep up the good work; that's a special bike you have there. 

In terms of the earth strap location - I've only ever seen it clamped externally and never between the engine/frame - it's a tight fit in there and would be a pain in the ass to fit that way. I rub the frame paint down both under the head of the bolt/strap and on the inner face between the engine case face/frame to ensure electrical continuity (i use a bit of dielectric grease to protect the bare frame metal). Always seems to do the job...

[Don R]

  The old ground strap between the engine and frame trick might be the result of a Hondaman tip.

[BenelliSEI]

  The old ground strap between the engine and frame trick might be the result of a Hondaman tip.

I think my K8 came that way, when new. On the old ones I think they belong on the outside (and it’s so much easier!).

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Wow! This is looking good.

[JamesH]

Many thanks for all the kind comments so far. It’s genuinely appreciated.

Top box, rear ‘bumper’ and rear lamp now fitted. Just need to secure the bumper to the rear fender with correct shouldered bolts / acorn nut.

Rear shocks test fitted (lol).

Original bearings cut out of the swingarm and popped the phosphor bronze bushes in the freezer for an overnight cool.

Front forks assembled and just waiting for the top nuts and they can be filled with 10W fork oil and the front end assembly can proceed.

Rear brake plate also assembled with new shoes fitted.

[rickmoore24]

That is looking SO nice! Well done.

[MauiK3]

This is a very exciting project to watch!!

[BenelliSEI]

James....... curious; what’s inside the top box, on the rear?

[JamesH]

James....... curious; what’s inside the top box, on the rear?

A stack of $100 bills

[BenelliSEI]

James....... curious; what’s inside the top box, on the rear?

A stack of $100 bills

Well done! By this point, I would have expected it to be empty!

[JamesH]

James....... curious; what’s inside the top box, on the rear?

A stack of $100 bills

Well done! By this point, I would have expected it to be empty!

Lol - I'll take a pic for you & share on here when I get a moment. Busy with the day job the past few days. J

[JamesH]

James....... curious; what’s inside the top box, on the rear?

John D - just for you lol. Overnight someone has stolen the stack of $100 bills. Bastards.

[Don R]

  Awwww maaaaan,

[JamesH]

Bit more of a progress update on the Police bike:

Wheels have been rebuilt - going to the local shop tomorrow for a pair of new Continental RB2/K112 tyres, new Michelin tubes and rim tape - the Conti’s are my go-to tyre choice.

Swingarm is now fitted (forgot to photograph the new bushes and new ‘collar’). Such a nice feeling putting a new set of phosphor-bronze bushes in with a new Honda ‘collar’. Smooth as butter, zero play, and fitted nicely back into the frame and torqued up. Freshly greased that’s one less job to do.

Rear ‘bumper’ now fully fitted and top box fully secured. Need to make up a jump-lead for the earth feed from the box to the loom.

Front end is coming together - forks fitted with new Honda gaitors, along with the ‘repainted’ fork ears that were rejected first time round.

Oil tank has been cleaned internally, fully repainted externally. Fitted perfectly with the NOS Honda fuel lines.

Moving on to the front brake calliper and master cylinder next.